Chapter Three – Connection?
Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table with Harry and Ron, spilling to them all about the incredible afternoon.
"He was so idiotic! It was as if he was having a birthday party for the dummies. Almost all his ideas don't fit at all! "Hermione rolled her eyes.
"You mean some actually fit?" Ron said in between mouthfuls of food.
"Well, honestly, yeah. I emphasize that it's only some. Like, maybe the one that music should be included in the ball?" Hermione replied.
At the Slytherin table, Malfoy was also complaining to Crabbe and Goyle about the discussion at the library.
"You would never believe how serious that darn mudblood was. She should try and relax herself, getting so uptight about minor stuff like a Grand Ball. "He looked towards the Gryffindor table and caught a glimpse of Hermione. As usual, she was with her best friends, talking non-stop.
Bet she's talking about the same thing as me.
Just then, Hermione looked up and met his eyes. Somehow, he had a very uncomfortable feeling within him. He couldn't explain why but there's just this strange feeling there. Hermione rolled her eyes and gave him a you-are-so-lame look before going back to her conversation. He smirked and poked at his food, still thinking about the weird feeling just now. What was it? I couldn't have… No, definitely not. He got up from his seat. Since he had no appetite, he decided to start on the proposal for the ball. They already had the main idea, and he wanted to be the one to finish the proposal before little Miss Granger comes up with everything.
That night, unknown to each other, both Hermione and Malfoy stayed up late to finish the proposal that was due in 3 days……
The next day, Hermione's schedule was practically filled up to the brim. She was totally exhausted, having stayed up late last night to finish the proposal; the feeling was almost suffocating her. If only I can have some sleep….She thought, forgetting that she was having Potions.
Just then, a paper airplane hit her hard on the head just as Snape had his back facing her. She opened up the piece of paper and came face to face with some lines of rubbish written in horrible handwriting. "Ew." She said out her thoughts aloud. After staring at it for considerably long time, she managed to read the message on the piece of paper.
Granger,
I've finished the proposal for the Ball. Meet at same place same time, for discussion.
The HARDWORKING Head Boy
Hermione could not help but give Malfoy a fiery stare. The idiot's trying to outdo her! Lucky she did the proposal too. She wrote on the same piece of paper agreeing to meet up with him later. Just as she sent the paper plane flying, Snape turned around in one swift motion and caught her in the act. Hermione gulped. This is no fun at all… She thought.
"Ms Granger?"
"Yes Professor?"
"Could you please repeat what I said just now?"
"Erm… you said.."
"Tsk. Tsk. Unable to reply promptly to questions and I thought you were always eager to answer questions? Write me a 1000 word essay on merpeople!"
"But professor… I was…"
"2000 words!"
"Professor! You didn't let me finish my sentence!"
"3000 words!"
"Yes professor…" Hermione sighed and gave Malfoy a killing glare as he started laughing.
"Class dismissed!" Snape declared as he rushed out of the classroom as usual.
"Damn, this suck." Hermione said as she made her way out of the class.
At the library again……..
"Look, this just won't work! How can the ball end at 3am? What do you think this is? Sleepover?." Hermione stared at Malfoy and found that he was not even looking at her. "WAKE UP! This is a Grand Ball we're talking about." She emphasized. "
"I am awake for your information and if a ball is not going to be overnight then there's nothing fun about it anymore!" Having said that, he crossed his arms across his chest and stared at Hermione.
"Why? What's the use of staying up so late? You'll be dancing throughout the whole thing and before you know it, you'll get sick of it and maybe even a bit dizzy." Hermione reasoned.
"No one's better at dancing then ME. I never get dizzy" Malfoy said arrogantly.
"Yeah right, I'm dancing with a high-classed dancer." Hermione tried to be sarcastic.
"You're absolutely right! For once I must say, you've made a point more sensible then school stuff."
"Oh shut up.11 oclock, that's the latest"
"2am"
"11.15"
"1.55"
"11.30"
"no, 1.30"
"Fine, 12 midnight"
"12hrs 01 min?"
Hermione gave Malfoy a challenging stare and Malfoy stared back. They just continued staring at each other, their eyes full of hatred. For a long time, no one moved, they're not giving up… Their eyes narrowed….
"erm… hello?" Ron said weakly.
Both Malfoy and Hermione turned to look at him, the intensive stare of theirs not gone from their eyes.
"Wow… Having a fight or something?" Not long after Ron said this, he realized what a bad choice of words he has.
"What else can we be doing? Having a hearty chat?" Hermione spat.
"Dating?" Malfoy added.
"Spending our precious time together?" Hermione continued.
"I've got better taste than that." Malfoy criticized.
"So do I." Hermione fought back.
Ron, shocked by the intensity between them, managed to get some words out of his mouth. "Er… nope. But the way you guys looked just now…. It was as if you're gonna kiss or something." Immediately, Ron realized that saying this was a huge mistake.
"Ron!" Hermione hissed.
"Look, if you guys are gonna sweet talk here about kiddy stuff, bye, I'm gone." Malfoy finally got irritated.
"Wait," Ron said, "I'm here to tell both of you something."
"Like when have I been on speaking terms with you?" Malfoy said as he plopped back down on his chair.
"A few seconds ago?"
"That was NOT counted."
"Then THAT one must have counted."
"I SHUT UP." Malfoy declared.
"okay, " Ron started, "Dumbledore told me to look for you. He wants to see both of you in his office now. Something about a proposal. He says both of you know what he's talking about. Any idea?"
Instantly, both of them turned to face each other. The electric current between their eyes was almost visible. Then in unison, they both stood up at lightning speed and rushed out of the library, towards Dumbledore's office. Somehow, the simple challenge they had led to a bigger one, one that challenged everything and anything just to be better then the other party.
=========================end of chapter 3!!!======================
how do you guys think? And thanx for all the reviewers… I noe some parts of my fic dun really fit and I'll try to change that. Hopefully I can get about 7 reviews till the next chapter. =D
